Page 1 of 67
MSN 570 MODULE 4EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Part I: Renal Physiology and Glomerular Function (Questions 1–25)
1. The best estimate of functioning renal tissue is which of the following
laboratory or clinical parameters?
A. Hourly urine output
B. Serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine
C. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
D. The specific gravity of the solute concentration of the urine
Rationale: GFR directly reflects the volume of fluid filtered by the glomeruli per
unit of time; a decline in GFR indicates a loss of functioning nephrons, making it
the most reliable indicator of viable renal mass .
2. What effects do exercise and changes in body position have on renal blood
flow?
A. They activate renal parasympathetic neurons and cause mild vasoconstriction.
B. They activate renal sympathetic neurons and cause mild vasoconstriction.
C. They activate renal parasympathetic neurons and cause mild vasodilation.
D. They activate renal sympathetic neurons and cause mild vasodilation.
Rationale: Exercise and positional changes activate the sympathetic nervous
system, leading to renal vasoconstriction and reduced renal blood flow, redirecting
blood to skeletal muscles .
3. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is directly related to which of the following?
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A. Perfusion pressure in the glomerular capillaries
B. Diffusion rate in the renal cortex
C. Diffusion rate in the renal medulla
D. Oncotic pressure in Bowman’s space
Rationale: GFR is directly proportional to the net filtration pressure in the
glomerular capillaries, which is largely determined by perfusion pressure .
4. Which of the following substances naturally inhibits crystal growth and helps
prevent renal calculi formation?
A. Pyrophosphate, potassium citrate, and magnesium
B. Calcium oxalate and uric acid
C. Sodium chloride and potassium chloride
D. Oxalate and phosphate
Rationale: Pyrophosphate, potassium citrate, and magnesium are naturally
occurring inhibitors of crystal aggregation and growth in urine .
5. The most common type of renal stone is comprised of which of the following?
A. Magnesium-ammonium-phosphate
B. Uric acid
C. Calcium oxalate
D. Magnesium phosphate
Rationale: Calcium oxalate stones account for approximately 70–80% of all kidney
stones .
6. Which of the following is a risk factor for developing kidney stones?
A. Dehydration
B. High dietary sodium
C. Obesity
D. All of the above
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Rationale: Dehydration (low urine volume), high dietary sodium (increases
calcium excretion), obesity, high animal protein intake, and conditions such as
hyperparathyroidism and gout all increase kidney stone risk .
7. What is the primary function of the proximal convoluted tubule?
A. Reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, and sodium
B. Concentration of urine
C. Secretion of potassium
D. Filtration of blood
Rationale: The proximal convoluted tubule is the primary site of reabsorption,
reclaiming approximately 65% of filtered sodium, water, glucose, amino acids, and
bicarbonate .
8. Which of the following is a sign of hypercalcemia?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Constipation
C. Confusion
D. All of the above
Rationale: Hypercalcemia can cause muscle weakness, constipation, confusion,
lethargy, and cardiac dysrhythmias and is commonly seen in hyperparathyroidism
and malignancy .
9. What is the normal range for serum potassium?
A. 1.5–2.5 mEq/L
B. 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C. 5.5–7.0 mEq/L
D. 7.0–8.5 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal serum potassium range is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; deviations can
cause life-threatening dysrhythmias .
10. Which of the following is a cause of hypokalemia?
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A. Loop diuretics
B. Vomiting
C. Diarrhea
D. All of the above
Rationale: Hypokalemia can result from loop diuretics (increased renal excretion),
vomiting, diarrhea, inadequate intake, or intracellular shifts .
11. What is the primary function of the collecting duct?
A. Reabsorption of water and secretion of potassium
B. Filtration of blood
C. Reabsorption of glucose
D. Concentration of urine only
Rationale: The collecting duct is the final site of water reabsorption under ADH
influence and potassium secretion under aldosterone influence, fine-tuning urine
concentration and electrolyte balance .
12. Which of the following is a sign of chronic kidney disease?
A. Uremia
B. Anemia
C. Hyperphosphatemia
D. All of the above
Rationale: CKD is associated with uremia, anemia (decreased erythropoietin),
hyperphosphatemia (decreased phosphate excretion), hypocalcemia, and
metabolic acidosis .
13. What is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults?
A. Minimal change disease
B. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
C. Membranous nephropathy
D. Diabetic nephropathy
4|Page
MSN 570 MODULE 4EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Part I: Renal Physiology and Glomerular Function (Questions 1–25)
1. The best estimate of functioning renal tissue is which of the following
laboratory or clinical parameters?
A. Hourly urine output
B. Serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine
C. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
D. The specific gravity of the solute concentration of the urine
Rationale: GFR directly reflects the volume of fluid filtered by the glomeruli per
unit of time; a decline in GFR indicates a loss of functioning nephrons, making it
the most reliable indicator of viable renal mass .
2. What effects do exercise and changes in body position have on renal blood
flow?
A. They activate renal parasympathetic neurons and cause mild vasoconstriction.
B. They activate renal sympathetic neurons and cause mild vasoconstriction.
C. They activate renal parasympathetic neurons and cause mild vasodilation.
D. They activate renal sympathetic neurons and cause mild vasodilation.
Rationale: Exercise and positional changes activate the sympathetic nervous
system, leading to renal vasoconstriction and reduced renal blood flow, redirecting
blood to skeletal muscles .
3. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is directly related to which of the following?
1|Page
,Page 2 of 67
A. Perfusion pressure in the glomerular capillaries
B. Diffusion rate in the renal cortex
C. Diffusion rate in the renal medulla
D. Oncotic pressure in Bowman’s space
Rationale: GFR is directly proportional to the net filtration pressure in the
glomerular capillaries, which is largely determined by perfusion pressure .
4. Which of the following substances naturally inhibits crystal growth and helps
prevent renal calculi formation?
A. Pyrophosphate, potassium citrate, and magnesium
B. Calcium oxalate and uric acid
C. Sodium chloride and potassium chloride
D. Oxalate and phosphate
Rationale: Pyrophosphate, potassium citrate, and magnesium are naturally
occurring inhibitors of crystal aggregation and growth in urine .
5. The most common type of renal stone is comprised of which of the following?
A. Magnesium-ammonium-phosphate
B. Uric acid
C. Calcium oxalate
D. Magnesium phosphate
Rationale: Calcium oxalate stones account for approximately 70–80% of all kidney
stones .
6. Which of the following is a risk factor for developing kidney stones?
A. Dehydration
B. High dietary sodium
C. Obesity
D. All of the above
2|Page
,Page 3 of 67
Rationale: Dehydration (low urine volume), high dietary sodium (increases
calcium excretion), obesity, high animal protein intake, and conditions such as
hyperparathyroidism and gout all increase kidney stone risk .
7. What is the primary function of the proximal convoluted tubule?
A. Reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, and sodium
B. Concentration of urine
C. Secretion of potassium
D. Filtration of blood
Rationale: The proximal convoluted tubule is the primary site of reabsorption,
reclaiming approximately 65% of filtered sodium, water, glucose, amino acids, and
bicarbonate .
8. Which of the following is a sign of hypercalcemia?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Constipation
C. Confusion
D. All of the above
Rationale: Hypercalcemia can cause muscle weakness, constipation, confusion,
lethargy, and cardiac dysrhythmias and is commonly seen in hyperparathyroidism
and malignancy .
9. What is the normal range for serum potassium?
A. 1.5–2.5 mEq/L
B. 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C. 5.5–7.0 mEq/L
D. 7.0–8.5 mEq/L
Rationale: The normal serum potassium range is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; deviations can
cause life-threatening dysrhythmias .
10. Which of the following is a cause of hypokalemia?
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, Page 4 of 67
A. Loop diuretics
B. Vomiting
C. Diarrhea
D. All of the above
Rationale: Hypokalemia can result from loop diuretics (increased renal excretion),
vomiting, diarrhea, inadequate intake, or intracellular shifts .
11. What is the primary function of the collecting duct?
A. Reabsorption of water and secretion of potassium
B. Filtration of blood
C. Reabsorption of glucose
D. Concentration of urine only
Rationale: The collecting duct is the final site of water reabsorption under ADH
influence and potassium secretion under aldosterone influence, fine-tuning urine
concentration and electrolyte balance .
12. Which of the following is a sign of chronic kidney disease?
A. Uremia
B. Anemia
C. Hyperphosphatemia
D. All of the above
Rationale: CKD is associated with uremia, anemia (decreased erythropoietin),
hyperphosphatemia (decreased phosphate excretion), hypocalcemia, and
metabolic acidosis .
13. What is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults?
A. Minimal change disease
B. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
C. Membranous nephropathy
D. Diabetic nephropathy
4|Page
